In Memoriam

Sheldon H. Solow (1928-2020)

The Institute of Fine Arts mourns the loss of Sheldon Henry Solow, who passed away on November 17, 2020 at the age of 92. Born in Brooklyn in 1928, Solow attended NYU, studying engineering and architecture, but left in 1949 to begin a career in real estate development. He eventually became one of New York City’s most influential builders, often choosing innovative architects to design elegant and distinctive towers. Among his most iconic skyscrapers is the Solow Building at 9 West 57th Street, designed in 1974 by Gordon Bunshaft. Solow also assembled a remarkable collection of Renaissance and Modern art, as well as Egyptian antiquities and African art. His collection comprises important paintings and sculptures by Sandro Botticelli, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Franz Kline, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Cy Twombly, among others.

Sheldon Solow was a generous, even visionary, benefactor to the Institute, whose many gifts ranged from student fellowships, to faculty positions, to the renovation of the façade of the James B. Duke House, to two floors of the building at #3 East 78th Street for the construction of the Sheldon H. Solow Library and Study Center. Sheldon and his wife Mia Fonssagrives Solow, a sculptor and jewelry designer, joined the Institute’s Council of Friends in 1973 (today’s Connoisseurs Circle). Solow became a trustee of the Institute in 1985, and served as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2003. He established two professorships: the Sheldon H. Solow Professor in the History of Architecture (currently held by Jean-Louis Cohen), and the Rosalie Solow Professor of Modern Art in honor of his sister (currently held by Thomas Crow). During the financial crisis of 2009-2011, his generosity provided financial support to over 200 Institute students. As recently as last August, he made a gift to the Director’s Discretionary Fund to assist students affected by the pandemic.

On December 31, 1998, Sheldon Solow gave the basement and first floor of #3 East 78th Street to The Institute of Fine Arts for a library, reading room, seminar room, and several offices. Owing to various complicated legal proceedings, construction only began in January 2020. In March, construction was again suspended because of the health crisis. Sheldon kept abreast of the project during every phase for over twenty years, and was delighted to see it advancing again this past winter. We regret that he will not be with us to see the completion of the Sheldon H. Solow Library and Study Center and to join in the long-awaited opening celebrations. As we toast the moment, when it finally arrives, we know he will be with us in spirit.

Christine Poggi Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director; Professor of Fine Arts

Honorary Fellowship

The Honorary Fellowship recognizes distinguished scholars in art history, archaeology, conservation and related disciplines, or outstanding figures in the visual arts. The award acknowledges their contribution to learning, teaching, and practice in these fields.

Thomas “Thom” Collins

Neubauer Family Executive Director and President, The Barnes Foundation.

Comments excerpted from Director Christine Poggi’s introduction at Commencement

It is my great pleasure to introduce Thom Collins, the Neubauer Family Executive Director and President of the Barnes Foundation. The Barnes is world-renowned for its collection of African art, Impressionism, early 20th century European and American art, native American out of the southwest as well as American decorative arts, among other works of art. But, equally important, it is an institution whose mission is devoted to “the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts in horticulture.”

Thom Collins received a BA and an MA in art history from Northwestern University. He began his curatorial career as the Newhall Curatorial Fellow at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Before joining the Barnes Foundation he served as Director of the

Distinguished Alumna

Rosa Lowinger

CEO and Chief Conservator, Rosa Lowinger and Associates, Inc.

Comments excerpted from Conservation Center Chair Hannelore Roemich’s introduction at Commencement

Rosa Lowinger is a leader in the field of cultural heritage conservation. She is a dedicated and sometimes outspoken advocate for overlooked and misunderstood monuments and sites. Rosa embodies the passion, intellect, creativity, and academic rigor for which the Institute is known. Rosa is President and Chief Conservator of RLA Conservation of Art and Architecture, a firm with offices in Los Angeles and Miami. RLA specializes in outdoor sculpture and integrated architectural artworks. SUNY/Purchase Neuberger Museum of Art and of Miami’s Perez Art Museum.

As an institution whose primary mission includes education, the Barnes has been remarkably innovative in finding new approaches to engaging diverse audiences and to creating an inclusive work environment. Under Thom’s direction, but with the collaboration of a dynamic team of curators and educators, the Barnes has expanded its educational initiatives, public programming, exhibitions, and research mission.

As someone who has been involved with the Barnes in various ways, since my many years in Philadelphia, I have found these initiatives and programs both inspiring and thought-provoking. Since Thom Collins arrived at the Barnes, a new level of energy and a renewed commitment to diversity, inclusion and excellence have been palpable. Please welcome Thom Collins, our Distinguished Guest Speaker, who will offer his thoughts on this occasion, and thank you, Thom, for being here with us.

American Institute for Conservation, the American Academy in Rome and the International Center for Conservation in Rome (ICCROM). She co-curated the 2013 exhibits Concrete Paradise: Miami Marine Stadium at the Coral Gables Museum, and Promising Paradise: Cuban Allure, American Seduction at the Wolfsonian in 2016.

Rosa served as a guest editor for the vandalism issue of the University of Pennsylvania’s journal Change Over Time and writes regularly for mainstream media about culture and historic preservation in her native country of Cuba.

As a loyal alumna who never hesitates to wade into controversy, Rosa was invited to represent the Institute at the NYU 2020 Alumni Weekend, where she presented a wonderful lecture “Understanding the Role of Vandalism in Protest and Public Art.” You can view a video of this talk on the institute’s website. We are honored that Rosa has agreed to address our graduates as our Distinguished Alumna.

A Retirement Tribute to Margaret Holben Ellis

Harriet Stratis, CC 1989

Formerly Senior Conservator of Prints and Drawings & Head of Paper Conservation, The Art Institute of Chicago

Retirement is not a word that comes to mind when one thinks about the indefatigable Margaret Holben Ellis – better known to friends, students and colleagues as Peggy. That is why her 2020 retirement came as a surprise to many. Yet in hearing about her plans for “retirement,” it became clear that Peggy would not be slowing down any time soon! As the Eugene Thaw Professor Emerita at the Conservation Center she will continue to dedicate time to teaching, ever enthusiastic about training a new generation of paper conservators. A tireless researcher, she will also continue her studies of the papers used by Leonardo and Rembrandt (among others), visually documenting watermark moldmates and paper characteristics using stateof-the-art computational characterization and imaging technology that she has had a major role in developing.

Peggy began her tenure at the IFA’s Conservation Center as an adjunct associate professor of paper conservation, after graduating from the Institute with an MA in Art History and Advanced Certificate in Conservation and while working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After her hire as Chair and Professor of the Conservation Center she overhauled the curriculum, starting formalized coursework in archaeological conservation and launching the Kress Paintings Conservation Program. As the Eugene Thaw Professor of Paper Conservation, an endowed position that she helped to establish, Peggy was able to concentrate on her teaching and research. Throughout her time at NYU, Peggy has been an inspiring teacher, effective grant writer, fundraiser, and diplomatic administrator who could successfully navigate the complexities of a large university. She also served as the Director of the Thaw Conservation Center at the Morgan Library and Museum for two decades.

Over the years she has taught Technical Connoisseurship of Prints and Drawings, The Conservation Treatment of Prints and Drawings and Readings in Paper Conservation. The latter, a graduate seminar, informed the content of her acclaimed Historical Perspectives in the Conservation of Works of Art on Paper. In her acknowledgment Peggy credits her “always inquisitive and challenging students” for their insight and honesty and the frank classroom discussions that led to the new discoveries presented in the volume. In addition to her teaching, Peggy hosted many interns and fellows at the Morgan Library and Museum over the years, providing the hands-on experience they needed to develop their confidence

and to learn to be sympathetic to the needs of the works of art in their care. Foremost among Peggy’s numerous achievements over three decades at the Conservation Center and the Morgan Library are her generous mentorship of students, her guidance as they entered the field, and her encouragement as they advanced in their careers.

Peggy is a prolific writer. Although her publications are too numerous to cite here, suffice it to say that she has greatly augmented the ever-growing body of conservation literature. She has published on a variety of artists’ materials including the ubiquitous porous pointed pen (better known as fiber-tipped pen to many), Day-Glo paints, wax-based drawing media and artists’ fixatives. Her scrupulous studies of artists’ materials and techniques include those of Jean Dubuffet, Albrecht Dürer, Paul Klee, Roy Lichtenstein, Jackson Pollock, and Lucas Samaras, among others. Peggy has presented papers, lectured and taught across the globe from Washington DC to Los Angeles, from London to Beijing. On a number of occasions I’ve attended Peggy’s presentations at conferences, envious of the ease with which she captures her audience’s attention. But none of these was more memorable than her 2016 presentation of Paper is Part of the Picture during which she ate – yes ate – a piece of paper with great aplomb to make her point.

The end of the fall semester 2020 brought with it a surprise virtual celebration of Peggy with over 150 friends and colleagues in attendance from around the world via Zoom. A handful of colleagues gathered “live” in the Duke House to share kind words and present her with gifts, among them a print by artist Chakaia Booker. Other colleagues and former students made presentations virtually. Through it all, Peggy’s style, grace and good humor prevailed. Dr. Norbert Baer bestowed Peggy with the fitting appellation “Peerless Protector of Papyrus, Parchment, Paper, Pen and Pencil.” Michele Marincola, Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of Conservation, emphasized Peggy’s collegiality, and her “passion and devotion” to her chosen profession and students. Perhaps Peggy’s former students said it best as they marveled at her “endless positivity, her sense of style, her limitless energy and vivacious spirit.” Although she will be missed, it’s reassuring to know that we’re not saying goodbye and that Peggy will remain a vital part of the IFA community for years to come.